Custom jaw track

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a jaw track for affixing fabric to a planer surface having a base, a housing surrounding a chamber that is divided into two cavities by a movable divider; and two movable jaws attached to the movable divider which moves to allow access to an inner cavity.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/053,515 filed May 15, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a jaw hook having two cavities each with a separate jaw holder.

The use of the two different jaws:

The upper jaw is used primarily although each jaw is functional. Jaw tracks, as are known in the art, are used for the installation of stretched fabric mounting system for walls, ceilings and other interior surfaces.

The installation of mounting fabric presents unique difficulties that can vary based upon the environment of installation.

By way of a non-limiting example, installation may vary dependent on any of the following placements of a jaw track:

-   -   Where the track meets the ceiling/coving;     -   Where the track meets a door frame/jamb/molding;     -   Where the track meets baseboard/chair rail;     -   In a corner seam/join; and     -   Where the need for vertical or horizontal seams occurs.

The lower jaw of the custom jaw track of the present invention can be used, but would not be limited to:

-   -   Where the fabric line stops short of a corner, a doorframe, the         baseboard, or the ceiling;     -   Where the fabric line surrounds a frameless window opening; and     -   where the fabric line surrounds a speaker opening.

In one embodiment, the jaw track for affixing fabric to a planer surface comprises

-   -   (a) a base;     -   (b) a housing surrounding a chamber that is divided into two         cavities by a movable divider;     -   (c) two movable jaws attached to the movable divider, wherein         each movable jaw allows access to an inner cavity; wherein said         movable jaw, when engaged with a fabric to be placed within a         cavity, secures a planer fabric within either of the two         cavities.

The base includes a flange extending away from the housing and a pair of movable jaws for securing a planer fabric in the cavity is a jaw configured with at least one protrusion.

Each movable jaw has at least one protrusion that is configured to urge in a direction outward from the divider by tension with memory such that when pressure is applied in a direction against the tension, the jaw moves along a living hinge to allow access to an internal cavity. When pressure is released, the jaw returns substantially to an initial resting position.

Additionally, each end portion of the base and upper member of the jaw track assembly may also have spring like tension and urge inward towards the central divider.

Also contemplated is a method of installing stretched fabric on a mounting system comprising the steps of:

-   -   a. providing a mounting with a jaw track of claim 1;     -   b. providing fabric to be secured to said mounting;     -   c. using a fabric mounting installation tool to move any one or         more of a jaw track, an end portion of a base of said jaw track,         or an end portion of a member of said jaw track in order to         access an internal cavity of said jaw track;     -   d. inserting fabric into said accessed cavity;     -   e. removing said fabric mounting installation tool;     -   f. allowing said jaw track to return to a resting position and         urge against an end portion to secure said fabric into position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cross-section view of the jaw track.

FIG. 1—Detail A is a side cross-section view of the jaw track with placement of material in second or upper cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Jaw track 10 has base 11 that partially encompasses a fixing flange 12. Wall 19 is perpendicular to base 11 and supports member 26. Divider 15 is in the shape of a “T” with a base 15 a that connects to wall 19 at the midpoint of wall 19. Divider 15 additionally includes a top portion 16 having a lower jaw 17 and an upper jaw 18. Each of lower jaw 17 and upper jaw 18 are similarly configured and the detail of upper jaw 18 is depicted in detail “A” of FIG. 1.

Upper jaw 18 has protrusions 21 a and 21 b. The protrusions define jaw channel 24. Upper edge 20 has protrusions 23 a and 23 b that define upper edge channel 22.

Each of base 11, wall 19 and member 26 define an interior region that is divided into a first cavity area 13 and a second cavity area 14 by divider 15.

In use, jaw track 10 is secured to a wall surface along base 11. Track 10 may be secured by any acceptable means that may include but would not be limited to an adhesive, tacks, staples, and the like. Tacks and staples may pass through base 11 along fixing flange 12 and into the surface to be covered. Each of upper jaw 18 and lower jaw 17 are constructed and arranged such that, in a normal state, they are urged by tension in the direction outward from divider 15 in the direction of base 11 and member 26 respectively. The tension is a spring like tension and has memory such that each of lower jaw 17 and upper jaw 18 return to a similar position when applied pressure of installation is released. When it is desired to insert a fabric material into a cavity of jaw track 10, the following steps occur:

(These steps will be described in relation to upper jaw 18 however it is understood that the identical procedure may be followed if lower jaw 17 is to be moved in order to access first cavity 13 with inserted fabric 25 therein).

Pressure is applied to urge upper jaw 18 in a direction away from member 26. End portion 27, or end portion 28, can also be moved with outward pressure i.e. outward from divider 15, in order to access respective cavities 13 and 14. Each of base 11 and member 26 may also impart tension being a spring like tension inward towards divider 15. In regards to accessing cavity 14, after separating end portion 27 from upper jaw 18, a desired fabric material 25 is then placed into cavity 14. Typically, a fabric tool, which is outside the scope of the invention but known in the art, is used to both move or open upper jaw 18 and insert a portion of the fabric 25 into a cavity. Pressure from upper jaw 18 and protrusions 21 a and 21 b is applied against member 26 and protrusions 23 a and 23 b on end portion 27. The fabric material 25 is pushed into cavity 14. Protrusion 21 b nests within channel 22. Protrusion 23 b nests within channel 24. The tension applied by upper jaw 18 in the direction of member 26 with the contact of each of protrusions 21 a, 21 b, 23 a, and 23 b, grasps the material and holds it in place between upper jaw 18 and end portion 27.

The arrangement of protrusions and channels on each of jaws 17 and 18 and on the interior of base 11 and member 26 increase the surface area and more effectively provide for a securing of material 25 to track 10.

Jaw track 10 of the present invention improves upon previously used tracks by providing first cavity 13 and second cavity 14 that are divided from a single larger chamber. The user than selects either first cavity 13 or second cavity 14 by urging either lower jaw 17 or upper jaw 18 from a resting position to provide access to the desired first cavity 13 or second cavity 14. Additionally, divider 15 has some flexibility to accommodate the excess fabric 25 to be held within one of the first cavity 13 or second cavity 14.

As seen in FIG. 1, cavity 13 is closer to base 11 and cavity 14 is further from base 11 than cavity 13. Thus, a single track device 10 can accommodate multiple mounting needs by providing the user with the choice of selecting an appropriate cavity based on the mounting needs of a particular configuration.

As shown in Detail A of FIG. 1, second cavity 14 holds material 25.

The jaw track of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, the jaw track is formed of a plastic having a durometer type “D” hardness of between about 65-90. A more preferred range has a durometer type “D” hardness of 67-83. Also preferred is durometer type “D” hardness of 72-78. One suitable plastic found to be particularly suitable has a durometer type “D” hardness of 75.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A jaw track for affixing fabric to a planer surface comprising: (a) a base; (b) a housing surrounding a chamber that is divided into two cavities by a movable divider; (c) two movable jaws attached to the movable divider, wherein each movable jaw allows access to an inner cavity; wherein said movable jaw, when engaged with a fabric to be placed within a cavity, secures a planer fabric within either of the two cavities.
 2. The jaw track of claim 1 wherein the base further includes a flange extending away from the housing.
 3. The jaw track of claim 1 wherein the movable jaw for securing a planer fabric in the cavity is a jaw configured with at least one protrusion.
 4. The jaw track of claim 1 wherein the movable jaw has at least one protrusion that is configured to urge in a direction outward from said divider by tension.
 5. The jaw track of claim 4 wherein each movable jaw moves along a living hinge when pressure opposing said tension is applied.
 6. The jaw track of claim 5 wherein said jaw track returns to a resting position when said pressure is removed.
 7. A method of installing stretched fabric on a mounting system comprising the steps of: a. providing a mounting with a jaw track of claim 1; b. providing fabric to be secured to said mounting; c. using a fabric mounting installation tool to move any one or more of a jaw track, an end portion of a base of said jaw track, or an end portion of a member of said jaw track in order to access an internal cavity of said jaw track; d. inserting fabric into said accessed cavity; e. removing said fabric mounting installation tool; f. allowing said jaw track to return to a resting position and urge against an end portion to secure said fabric into position. 